A new study finds that online media has dramatically changed the way consumers discover food. Instead of relying on family recipes, newspapers, or cookbooks, it's estimated that 50 percent of consumers now use sites like Twitter and Facebook to learn about food...

... while another 40 percent learn about food from websites, apps, or blogs.

This is hardly groundbreaking news, as this shift has been evident for awhile. So what else can we learn from this?

According to a report on NPR, the study ("Clicks & Cravings: The Impact of Social Technology on Food Culture") didn't address whether this "Internet food porn" is helping people eat more healthfully, but there does seem to be a major shift away from processed food and towards real food and ingredients, which is affecting major food brands:

Food companies are taking note of the growing influence of social media over people's consumer habits. And they don't necessarily see it as their friend. 'Food companies are confused and overwhelmed by social media; they feel vulnerable because they don't have the authority they once had...'